Scientists make remarkable new discovery after studying fast-spreading disease: 'Dogs are sentinels'
Valley fever, also known as Coccidioidomycosis, is a lung infection that occurs from breathing in the spores of the Coccidioides fungus.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fungus lives in moist soil conditions commonly found in the Western United States and parts of Mexico, and Central and South America. Digging into soil containing the fungus spores can cause them to become airborne, which can then enter the respiratory system and cause infection.
Dogs who like to dig into the soil are "more at risk of getting the disease," per Sierra Sun Times. However, humans and other mammals, including cattle, horses, llamas and alpacas, and apes and monkeys, have also been found to contract the disease.
Among recorded valley fever cases in animals, though, dogs constitute the majority, according to the University of Arizona.
A group of scientists at the University of California, Davis studied how the disease manifests in dog populations in the United States, gathering data trends to extrapolate disease risk in humans.
The study, published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, is one of the largest scientific reviews on animal data for valley fever.
Blood test results of 834,899 dogs over a 10-year period from 2012 to 2022 that were sourced from diagnostic laboratories that conducted animal blood tests for valley fever were analyzed.
From this data, the scientists were able to map where positive cases of valley fever occurred — 91.5% of cases occurred in Arizona, 3.7% in California, 2.6% in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, collectively, and 0.6% in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, combined. The remaining states within the country made up 1.3% of positive cases.
Observing positive cases in states where the disease has not yet become endemic, Jane Sykes, lead author of the UC Davis study, told Sierra Sun Times, "We should be closely watching those states because there could be under-recognition of the emerging fungal disease in humans."
Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home?
Yes — always
Yes — often
Yes — sometimes
No — never
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Exposure to the disease and occurring symptoms may vary from person to person, which include fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, rashes, and muscle or joint pain, but severe cases may cause long-term lung problems.
"Dogs are sentinels for human infections," Sykes said, per Sierra Sun Times.
Valley fever may be exacerbated by drought conditions, which can lead to dry soil that can be picked up and dispersed across the land by strong winds, as a study in the journal Environmental International, shared by Science Direct, explained. The fungal spore particles are then airborne, posing a health risk to humans and dogs who may accidentally inhale them.
Intense heavy rainfall also creates the ideal conditions for the fungal spores to thrive, which tends to lead to bigger surges in positive cases when the rain returns, per UC San Diego.
Scientists have found that soil moisture across the globe has been depleting over decades. Along with drying soil, over 130 U.S. locations have experienced an increase in hourly rainfall intensity since 1970, creating high-risk flood zones.
Reducing national risk for valley fever includes increased awareness of the disease and hypervigilance in high-risk states. Studying dogs, as this study has found, may help humans better protect and defend against the disease.
Taking action to protect the environment from rising global temperatures and the changing climate conditions that come with it may help reduce the frequency of extreme weather events, such as droughts and flooding, that increase the risk of disease.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Scientists sound alarm over growing threat of drug-resistant respiratory infections: 'It's really hard to get rid of'
Scientists sound alarm over growing threat of drug-resistant respiratory infections: 'It's really hard to get rid of' As global temperatures rise, deadly fungal infections may also increase. What's happening? A report by TriplePundit highlighted the link between changing weather patterns and the spread of disease-causing fungi, such as coccidioides, which causes valley fever, and aspergillus, which harms the respiratory system. Valley fever is a lung infection most commonly found in warm, dry climates. It is caused by the spores of the coccidioides fungi, which "grow in dry soils and are kicked up with dust," according to TriplePundit. The publication noted that although most people fully recover from the flu-like symptoms, 5% to 10% of those infected develop serious long-term lung problems. Changing climates impact the speed at which these harmful fungi species can reproduce. Kathleen Treseder, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, told TriplePundit, "In the case of some fungal diseases like Valley Fever, the fungi do better at hotter, drier climate conditions." "As climate change is pushing ecosystems in that direction, the fungi do better," she added. Why are these fungal diseases concerning? Although valley fever is most commonly seen in the Southwest and more arid parts of the Pacific Northwest, the report stated that it "could move into the plains across states like Kansas and Nebraska, reaching as far north as the border with Canada." Rising temperatures and increasing droughts create the perfect breeding ground for this fungus. While the presence of more harmful fungi is an issue for everyone, it is especially bad news for people who haven't had previous exposure to the mold, making them less immune to fungal diseases. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Most people recover from valley fever, but it can cause disfigurement or death if it goes untreated. The treatment for this fungal infection can cost upward of $30,000, which is a huge amount of money for most families in America. Additionally, Treseder likened the treatment of valley fever to chemotherapy. "It's really hard to get rid of Valley Fever once you've got it, because fungi are actually pretty closely related to humans," she said. Damaging them inside the body harms our own cells. Plus, the disease can be extremely harmful or fatal for dogs. What's being done about fungal diseases? In areas at risk of these infectious fungi, scientists are asking the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make it mandatory to report disease cases. By examining climate forecasts, the CDC can alert medical professionals and hospitals in at-risk areas ahead of time. Although no vaccines currently exist to prevent these diseases, some are in development for humans and dogs. The discovery that changing climates can increase the risk of fungal diseases may lead to scientific breakthroughs, which will hopefully bring us one step closer to a cleaner, healthier future for all. If you live somewhere where valley fever occurs, the best way to prevent the spread of the disease is to avoid kicking up dust and releasing harmful spores. Dampening any soil before sporting events or gardening is an effective way to prevent the spread of disease. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Washington Post
a day ago
- Washington Post
Susan Monarez confirmed as Trump's CDC director
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Susan Monarez to be President Donald Trump's director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Monarez , 50, was named acting director in January and then tapped as the nominee in March after Trump abruptly withdrew his first choice, David Weldon. The Atlanta-based federal agency, tasked with tracking diseases and responding to health threats, has been hit by widespread staff cuts, key resignations and heated controversy over long-standing CDC vaccine policies upended by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. At her confirmation hearing, Monarez said she values vaccines and rigorous scientific evidence, but she largely dodged questions about her dealings with Kennedy, an antivaccine activist who has sought to dismantle some of the agency's previous protocols and decisions. With the 51-47 vote in favor of Monarez, she becomes the first CDC director to pass through Senate confirmation under a 2023 law. She holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin, and did postdoctoral research at Stanford University. Prior to the CDC, Monarez was largely known for her government roles in health technology and biosecurity. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
a day ago
What to know about deadly brain-eating amoeba
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A 12-year-old boy died from a brain-eating amoeba two weeks after a holiday weekend on a popular South Carolina lake. The brain-eating amoeba enters the body when water is forced up the nose, like when someone jumps or dives in the water. It causes an infection that swells the brain and destroys tissue. Fewer than 10 cases are reported each year in the U.S., but almost all are fatal. Here are some things to know about the amoeba, its latest victim and other dangers on freshwater lakes: The amoeba's scientific name is Naegleria fowleri and it is most dangerous in very warm water, including in lakes and rivers in the southern part of the U.S. and other places with hot, sometimes dry summers like Pakistan and Australia. The amoeba enters the brain through the olfactory nerve in the nose. Once inside, it causes an infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Symptoms start as a fairly standard headache and nausea. By the time the pain becomes severe, it is almost always too late to save the infected person. Of the 167 cases reported in the U.S. between 1962 and 2024, only four people have survived, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of the deaths happened within five days of getting sick, according to the CDC. Jaysen Carr went swimming at Lake Murray about 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of Columbia over the July Fourth weekend. He got sick several days later and died on July 18. His father and mother had never heard of the amoeba before a doctor in tears told them what tests of his spinal fluid had found. Clarence Carr said he was shocked to learn South Carolina, like most other U.S. states, has no law requiring public reporting of deaths or infections from the amoeba. The lake wasn't closed and no water testing was performed. 'My son was a very smart individual. If he had one warning, he would have thought swimming in the lake was a bad idea,' Carr said. The amoeba is fairly common and is most dangerous when the water is warm. Researchers are trying to figure out why the infections are so rare. Some people have been found to have had antibodies, signalling they may have survived exposure. Others may die from brain swelling and other problems without the amoeba ever being detected. 'My son lost his life swimming. We assumed it was safe,' Carr said. The amoeba can show up in hot springs, rivers and, on rare occasions, in tap water. That's why doctors recommend using sterile water for cleaning nasal passages with a neti pot. The only way to be completely safe is to not swim in lakes or rivers and, if you do, keep your head above water. Pinching your nose or using nose clips when diving or swimming can keep water out of your nose. There are other dangers in swimming in lakes and rivers instead of pools, where chemicals can kill off dangerous bacteria and other organisms. A mouthful of water could contain bacteria. And while the bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals, some strains can cause a range of conditions, including urinary tract infection, cystitis, intestinal infection and vomiting, with the worst cases leading to life-threatening blood poisoning, according to the Mayo Clinic. Algae can also cause illnesses. Cyanobacteria — also referred to as blue-green algae — are plant-like organisms that live in water. The algae can look like foam, scum, mats, or paint on the surface of the water and can grow underneath it. The organisms can quickly grow out of control, or 'bloom," in warm weather, helped along by excessive nutrients in fertilizers and pet waste carried along by stormwater. Some of the algae produce toxins that can cause symptoms including skin irritation, stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle and joint pain, mouth blisters, seizures, and acute liver damage, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
